Part two of our continuing search for good “over the counter” packaged bacon!  Today it’s Smithfield Naturally Hickory Smoked.

This is actually the brand that we seem to eat the most at the Baird household, usually you can get it on sale at one of the grocery stores or at least for a pretty decent everyday price.

This standard 16oz. package yielded 14 good slices.  There was a 15th, but it was so paper thin that I just chucked it.

Color was real good, a little fatty but I still thought it had a fairly good meat/fat ratio.

Bacon was split onto two foil lined sheets and each cooked separately at 425 for 12 minutes.

Look at that!!  Really held it’s shape well, not a lot of shrinkage.  There was a really nice aroma to the house as these things baked up.

They cooked really even (except for that one little spot on the top of slice 6) and had a nice crunch with the first bite, but didn’t crumble.  There wasn’t that much of a smoked taste to the meat and was actually a little sweet.

This held up real well as my breakfast side and on a sandwich later.  Smithfield, you made a good little bacon!

I give you…Eight PIGGIES EATING BACON!  Next time you are on sale, you’ll be in my cart!

OINK!